The Role of Probiotics in Colorectal Cancer: A Review

Purpose Globally, cancer is among the principal causes of death, and the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing annually around the world, and it is currently ranked third most diagnosed cancer type. Despite the development in the treatment procedures for colorectal cancer including chemotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy and radiotherapy, the death rates from this cancer type are still elevated due to the adverse effects associated with treatment that may affect patients' quality of life. Recently, the global interest in probiotics research has grown with significant positive results.Methods This review discusses the role of probiotics in normal colorectal physiology and cancer.Results Probiotics will become an essential part in the prevention and management of colorectal cancer in the near future as they are expected to provide a solution to the problems associated with cancer treatment. Probiotics' properties open the way for multiple effective uses in colorectal cancer prevention strategies. Additionally, probiotics can reduce the problems associated with chemotherapy and surgery when used synergistically. Probiotics can also increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic medications. Targeted drug delivery and TRAIL collaboration techniques are other effective and promising methods that involve probiotics.Conclusions Probiotics have properties that make them useful in the management and prevention of colorectal cancer and can provide new avenue to reduce the occurrence of this malignancy and enhance the patients' quality of life.